Purification of solvents adapted for use in dry cleaning



. 35 connected to Patented July 8, `1930 pira srra PATENT LEWIS E. GAUME, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MIRACLEAN COllll-PANY,

CANTON, OHIO, CORPORATION OF OHIO PURIFICATION OF SOLVENTS ADAPTED FOR-USE IN DRY CLEANING Application led October 18, 1924. Serial No. 744,357.

This invention relates to the scouring,

chemical cleaning, reclaiming and deodorizing of dry cleaners solvents, and 1s more particularly directed to the removal of foreign sustances from `dry cleaners solvents which have become rancid, thereby permitting the solvents to be used again.

The objects of the invention are to provide an -improved method or process for removing all objectionable foreign matter from dry cleaners solvents for purposes where it-is necessary to produce odorless solvents; theA process being such as to enable the scouring,

chemicalY cleaning and cleaners solvents before the sameI are used, or to keep said solvents clean during the use y of the same. as well as to reclaim said solvents which have become rancid, owing to the large content` of'objectionable foreign matter, such' throughout the drawing.

The apparatus may comprise the tank 1 having the conical bottomv 2 and provided with a perforated bale plate 3, spaced from the upper end thereof, a gaugev glass 4 being adjacent to said baffle plate to indicate the solvent level within the tank.

A short horizontal pipe 5 is shown connected to theconical bottom of the tank as by the elbow 6, said pipe extending'radially to a point in line with the periphery of the tank,

where it is` connected. with a three-way elbow y being Connected to said 7, a gauge `glass 8 elbow and to the lower portion of the tank, 45. as illustrated, to indicate the condition of the contents of the lower portion ofthe tank.

A waste pipe 9 leads'downward vfromthe elbow 7 and is provided at its upper end portion with a shut-oft' valve 10. A horizontal pipe 11'is connected to the elbow 7 and prolside elevation partly in sec- Similar `numerals refer to similar partsA reaches a the upper portion of the tankvided near said elbow with a- T connection 12, to which is attached the draw-off pipe 13, provided with a cut-off valve 14 in its upper end portion.` y A shut-olf valve15 is provided in the pipe 11 adjacent-tothe T connection 12 and a cross-shaped connection 16 is provided in the pipe beyond said valve, a 'hopper v17 being connected to the upper part of saidcross connection and the supply pipe 18 to the lower part thereof, shut-olf valves 19 and 20 being provided'above and below the connect. t 7 1 l deodorizng of d1, y l 1011 respec 1x@ y The pipe 11 communicates with a pump 21 and then leads tothe inlet'22'invthe top of the tank. p A water line 23 also-communicates with-the inlet -22 and is provided with a shutoffvalve 24 normally closed. An air vent 25 is also provided in .the upper end of the tank to carry off gases and fumes.

In operating the apparatus to carry out vthe improved method of cleaning, scouring,

reclaiming or deodori'zing dry cleaners solvent, the solvent to be treated is drawn from the supply line by closing all of the valves, eX- eepting the valve 2O and operating the pump, pumping thesolvent into vthe tank until it point slightly below the baffle' plate 3. i

The solvent supply which may be gasoline is then shut off by closing the valve 2O and the valve 19 is opened and a cleaning compound is placed in the hopper 17 and pumped into the upper end of the tank. This cleaning compound maybe either an alkali or an acid, depending upon the foreign matter contained in the' solvent. Preferably an alkali andan acid both are used,as in the Ina-y jority of cases it is found that it is necessary to use both toproperly eliminatethe impurities fromthe solvent.

Where both an alkali and an acid are used, eitherl the alkali or the acid may be used first, although -as hereinafter stated, it may be preferablevto first use the alkali and :then later use the acid. A solution of sulphuric acid may be used with good results and the alkali may consist of causticsoda or the like. v

In thepresent case lwe will assume that an `it will be' seen that there will be little if any actual movement of the gasolene, the acid being continually circulated through the gasolene from top to bottom, taking out the anin'ial and vegetable oils therefrom.- y

The valve 15 is then closed and the acid permitted to settle to the bottom of the tank, the level of the acid being indicated in the lower gauge glass S. The valve 10 in the waste pipe is then opened, drawing off the acid from the bottom of the tank and when vthe gauge glass 8 indicates that the acid has been'drawn from the tankthe valve 10 is.

again closed.

The valve 24C is then opened, admittingwater into the upperportion of the tank, the

water being distributed over the entire surface ofthe solvent by means of the perforated baffle plate 3, the waste valve 10 beingopen sufficient-lv to permit the water Ito be dis! charged from the tank as itpasses downward through the solvent which, owing to its specific gravity, remains above the water and is indicated in gauge glass 8, and after valve 2-1 is closed, the valvelO remains open until the residue of water in the tank, as indicated inthe gauge 'glass 8, is entirely drawn off. The water thus washes the solvent of the acid and such particles of the oils as may be cari'ied thereby. A f

v For the ,purpose of neutralizing the acid, an alkali, such as caustic soda, is then placed in the hopper 17, the valve 19 is opened, admitting the alkali to the pipe 1l and the pump 21 is operated to pump the alkali into the upper end4 of the tank.

The valve 19 is then closed and the valve 15 opened and the solvent and alkali are circulated from the tank through the pipe 11 in thesame manner as above described regarding the solvent and acid.

This circulation is continued for a period of time to be predetermined by the condition of the solvent, after which the valve 15 is closed and the pump stopped. VThealkali is then permitted to settle to the bottom of the tank and drawn off through the waste pipe by operating the valve 10.

lVhen all of the alkali has been withdrawn from the bottom of the tank, as indicated by `gauge4 8, water is again passed through the solvent as above described and withdrawn.

and conveying it toany suitable storage receptacle or the like.

The valve 14 in the draw-off pipe is opened,

'i drawing the treated solvent fromv the tank From the above it will be seen that the iinproved method consists in the cleaning,

scouring, reclaiming and deodorizing of dryl cleaners solvents'by injecting cleaning coinpounds, which may be alkali or acid or both (as determined by the analysis of the solvent to be cleaned), into the solvent to be cleaned, circulatingthe solvent and cleaning coinpound until they are thoroughly mixed, then letting` the solvent stand until the heavier cleaning compound has descended to the bottom of the tank, drawing ofl` the compound with the impurities it has gathered from the solvent, then passing water through the solvent, permitting the waterto settle to the bottom of the solvent and drawing off the water.

1. The process of purification of used solvents adapted for use in dry cleaning, which consists in distributing an acidI over the entire surface of the solvent to be purified, continuously circulating the acid downward through the solvent, withdrawing the acid, distributing an alkali over the entire surface of the solvent, continuously circulating the alkali downward through the solvent, and withdrawing the alkali from the solvent'.

f2. The process of purification of used Solvents adapted for use in dry cleaning, which consists in distributing an acid over the entire surface of the solvent to be purified, continuously circulating the acid downward through the solvent, withdrawing the acid. distributing an alkali over the entire surface of the solvent, continuously circulating the alkali downward through the solvent, Withdrawing'the alkali from the solvent, distributing water over the entire surface of the solvent, and continuously circulating the water downward through the solvent.

3. The process of purification of used solvents adapted for use in dry cleaning, which consists in distributing an acid over the entire surface of the solvent to be purified, continuously circulating the acid downward through the solvent, withdrawing the acid, distributing water over the entire surface of the solvent and continuously circulating the water downward through the solvent, withdrawing the water, distributing an alkali over the entire surface of the solvent, continuously' circulating the alkali downward through the solvent, withdrawing the alkali, again distributing water over the en. tire surface of the solvent and continuously circulating the water downward through the solvent, and withdrawingthe water.

4. The process of purification of used Solvents adapted for use in dry cleaning, which consists in distributing sulpliuric acid over the entire surface of thesolvent to be purified, continuously circulating the acid downward through the solvent, withdrawing the acid,

distributing water overthe entire surface of I Vthe solvent and continuously circulating the Cnv - face of the4 solvent and continuously circulating the water downward through the solvant,

.and withdrawing the water.

In testimony that I claim the abov'e, I

have hereunto'subscribed my name.l

LEWIS E. GAUME. 

